Man, when I first picked up a golf club, I had no clue what a ‘decent’ score even meant. You hear guys talking numbers in the clubhouse, throwing around terms. Me? I was just trying not to lose too many balls, you know?
My first scores? Ha! Let’s just say they were closer to a phone number than what you see on TV. I’d walk off the 18th green feeling like I’d wrestled a bear. Then I’d look at my card… brutal. Seriously. Almost gave up counting right then and there.
So, I started asking around. Not like, formally, just chatting with folks. The guys who seemed to always hit it straight, the older chaps who’d been playing forever. I figured they’d know. They had to.
And what did I find out? Well, ‘decent’ is a slippery fish, my friend. It’s not one single number. One guy, who played like five times a week, told me anything over 80 was a bad day. My jaw just about hit the floor. At that point, breaking 120 felt like winning the Masters to me! Seriously, 120!
Then there was this other fella, just a regular weekend golfer like I was hoping to become. He said if he broke 100, he was buying a round of beers. That sounded more like my speed! It really hit me then – it all depends on who you are and how much you play. And probably how much natural talent you got, which, for me, wasn’t a lot at the start.
My Own Journey with Numbers
So, here’s how it went for me, trying to figure this whole ‘decent’ thing out. Through my own sweat and, let’s be honest, a lot of lost golf balls. So many lost balls.
- Phase 1: Survival. Honestly, my first goal was just to finish a round without wanting to throw my clubs in the lake. If I kept it under, say, 120, I felt like I hadn’t totally embarrassed myself. That was ‘decent’ for beginner-me. Barely.
- Phase 2: The Big 100. Then came the magical number: 100. Oh man, breaking 100 for the first time… I remember it clear as day. Eagle Trace, hole 17, chipped in for par. Felt like a million bucks. For a long time, anything in the 90s was more than decent; it was a pure victory! I probably told everyone I knew.
- Phase 3: Getting Comfy in the 90s. After a while, and a lot more practice than I’d like to admit (and maybe a lesson or two, don’t tell anyone), shooting in the 90s became my ‘decent’. Like, if I shot a 94, I was pretty happy. It meant I was making some good shots, not too many of those disastrous triple bogeys.
I remember this one time, I was playing with my brother-in-law. He’s one of those guys, you know? Played a bit in college, naturally athletic. Just picks up a club and hits it pure. He’d shoot an 82 and be kinda bummed, complaining about missed putts. And I’d just shot my personal best 91 and was over the moon, practically doing cartwheels! We both had ‘decent’ days by our own standards, but our numbers were miles apart. It’s all relative, isn’t it? Really makes you think.
So, What’s the Real Deal for Most Folks?
If you’re not trying to go pro, and you just play for fun, here’s what I’ve kinda figured out from being around the game for a while. Just my two cents, from what I’ve seen out there:
- Breaking 100 consistently: You’re doing alright. You’re officially a golfer, not just someone whacking a ball around in a field. That’s a solid, decent achievement for a lot of people. Pat yourself on the back.
- Shooting in the 90s: Now you’re playing some pretty respectable golf. You understand course management a bit, you can string some good shots together. That’s definitely decent. You can hold your head high.
- Dipping into the 80s: If you can shoot in the 80s, even occasionally, you’re a good golfer. Like, better than most of the people you’ll play with on a weekend. That’s more than decent; that’s good. Really good.
- The 70s: If you’re shooting in the 70s regularly as an amateur, you’re in the top tier of recreational players. Forget ‘decent’, that’s excellent. You’re probably taking money off your buddies.
But here’s the kicker: a ‘decent’ golf score is also about how you feel about your round. Did you hit that one perfect drive that just soared? Did you make a long putt that curled right in? Did you just enjoy being out there, smelling the cut grass and forgetting about work for a few hours? Sometimes, a 105 with a bunch of laughs with your buddies feels more ‘decent’ than a hard-fought 95 where you stressed over every single shot.
I once played a round, it was pouring rain, I mean, coming down in sheets. I shot like a 110, lost six balls. Six! But my kid caddied for me for the first time, just walking along, and we just had a blast. Talked about everything. Was the score decent? Nope. Not even close. Was the day decent? Absolutely. One of the best. That’s the stuff that sticks with you, more than the number on the card sometimes.
So yeah, don’t get too hung up on what some pro shoots, or even what that low-handicapper in your group shoots. Figure out your decent. For me, these days, if I can keep it under 95 and have a good walk, that’s a decent day at the office. And if I break 90, well, that’s when I start thinking I’ve really got this game figured out… until the next round, anyway! Then it all goes out the window again. That’s golf for ya.
